Alaska Business Monthly articles from November 2005

Alaska Business Monthly archives from November 2005

Keeping Christmas.(Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan celebrations)
November 1, 2005... Depending on when you may be reading this, there are only about 45 more days until Christmas. Visual clues are to be seen everywhere, but if present custom keeps, which we hope it does not, one dare not wish anybody Merry Christmas. It's...

Bagley to retire.(Alaska Airlines Inc.'s George Bagley)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Alaska Air Group announced recently that George Bagley, executive vice president of operations for Alaska Airlines, will retire at the end of 2005, after more than 16 years in operating roles at both Alaska and Horizon Air and six years as...

USTravel opens two new Alaska offices.(TRAVEL & TOURISM)
November 1, 2005... Two new full-service travel agency locations of US Travel have opened: one at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage and another at the Westmark Baranof Hotel in Juneau. Alaska Airlines City Ticket offices previously occupied the two locations....

Globalstar builds new Wasilla satellite.(COMMUNICATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Hand held satellite phone provider Globalstar LLC has begun construction of a new satellite gateway in Wasilla to enhance satellite voice and data services, including e-mail, Internet access and enterprise data solutions in Alaska and the...

Agreement sends Alaska timber to Taiwan.(TIMBER)
November 1, 2005... AS 1.7 million agreement to export Southeast Alaska timber to Taiwan was announced recently by Alaska economic and resource development officials and Taiwan resource executives. The announcement confirms terms agreed to by Sealaska Timber...

Ground broken on Veterans' and Pioneers' home.(CONSTRUCTION)
November 1, 2005... Gov. Frank H. Murkowski, former Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Joel Gilbertson, and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Craig E. Campbell, gathered recently with other state officials at the Palmer...

Crowley acquires Alaska fuel distribution business.(Northland Fuel LLC)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Crowley has acquired the Alaska-based fuel distribution business of Northland Fuel LLC. The purchase consists of the assets of Yukon Fuel Co., Northland Vessel Leasing and the stock of Service Oil and Gas Inc. They've also acquired the assets...

Utility executives honored.(APPLAUSE)
November 1, 2005... Evan "Joe" Griffith, former chief executive officer of Chugach Electric Association, and Walter Sapp, board member of Kodiak Electric Association, received the highest honor awarded by Alaska Power Association (APA), the Mason Lazelle...

Open for business: the resources are there, but is there enough incentive for worlwide producers to invest in Alaska?
November 1, 2005... In a world increasingly worried about oil shortages, how does Alaska shape up? In terms of attracting investment, how competitive are we? Given our ample fossil energy resources, why aren't energy companies stumbling all over themselves to...

Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency.(Right Moves)
November 1, 2005... Ryan Strong was named president of Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency. Strong, raised in the Eagle River area, is a Chugiak High School graduate. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame and an master's in business...

Pacific Alaska Forwarders.(Karen Smith and Matt Marth appointed)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Karen Smith was hired as sales representative at Pacific Alaska Forwarders to handle new and existing accounts. Smith spent the last 15 years with the Hilton Hotel, most recently as the director of catering and sales. She has been a resident of...

Goldbelt Inc.(Robert Martin Jr. appointed)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Goldbelt Inc. hired Robert Martin Jr. as vice president of operations. Martin, a Goldbelt shareholder, recently served as regional transportation engineer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Prior to that, he was director of the Southeast Region...

STEELFAB.(Vince Doran gets Outstanding Older Worker Award)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Vince Doran, a consultant to STEELFAB, was awarded the 2005 Outstanding Older Worker Award for Alaska recently at STEELFAB's plant on Railroad Avenue. The award celebrates the contributions older workers bring to the work force. The award is a...

Mad Dog Graphx.(Right Moves)
November 1, 2005... Mad Dog Graphx, a two-person design studio based in Anchorage, recently won two design awards in the 2005 District Eleven ADDY[R] Awards Competition from the American Advertising Federation. District Eleven is a regional competition...

Resource Data Inc.(Tim Brown and Jacob Champness appointed as programmers)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Custom software development firm Resource Data Inc. hired two employees for the Anchorage office. Tim Brown was hired as a senior programmer/ analyst. Brown, with more than 18 years experience in information technology, is an expert in Java and...

Wells Fargo.(Right Moves)
November 1, 2005... Wells Fargo has named Andrew Riddell business banking relationship manager for Kenai. Riddell was previously community banking president for Valdez, serving customers there for one year. In almost two years with Wells Fargo, he has worked as a...

Providence Alaska Foundation.(Susan Ruddy appointed)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Susan Ruddy recently joined the Providence family as president of the Providence Alaska Foundation. Ruddy came to Providence in late March from the University of Alaska where she served as the vice chancellor of university advancement for...

University of Alaska.(Right Moves)
November 1, 2005... University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton has announced the appointment and transfer of UAA Provost Ted Kassier to senior associate vice president for academic affairs at the system level. The appointment is part of an ongoing effort to...

Alaska Regional Hosp.(Right Moves)
November 1, 2005... Greg R. Thoelke, certified strength and conditioning specialist, was hired as a clinical exercise physiologist by Alaska Regional Hospital. Thoelke will be working in the hospital's Health Management Center providing exercise supervision and...

RBMS LLC.(Gregory J. Kershaw promoted)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Gregory J. Kershaw was named CEO of RBMS LLC, an Anchorage-based employee benefits firm. For the past two years, he has been president and chief operating officer. Kershaw has been with the firm for more than 10 years and has a held a variety...

Party time: making memorable holiday gatherings: show your employees how much you are by providing them a fun, safe holiday party.
November 1, 2005... What better time to show your employees that you care about them than the holidays? Spread good cheer and camaraderie with a company holiday celebration. Your party is sure to be a hit if you plan ahead for a good time. BUDGGETING helps...

State university system pumps dollars into communities: from Ketchikan to Fairbanks, the impact of the university to its host towns and cities is reported as considerable, both in cultural impact and finances.
November 1, 2005... The business of higher education is big business for many Alaska communities, with the local University of Alaska campus providing a relatively stable influx of cash to the local economy. It's a stability that often-times runs a complementary...

Health savings accounts: pros and cons: HSAs are growing in popularity, but they are not good for those with ongoing illness or those in need or regulat prescription drug benefits.
November 1, 2005... Health insurance premiums account for a sizeable bite into any small organization's budget. As the rates increase, the budget gets tighter. Lowering coverage and employer contribution and raising deductibles may save money, but it also provides...

The Alaska mineral industry in 2005: the year 2005 has been very busy for all segments of the industry and with metal prices at current levels, the future looks bright.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... Strong metal prices continue, especially for gold, and these prices continue to stimulate the mineral industry in Alaska. The improved prices of gold, silver, lead, copper, platinum, nickel, uranium and zinc are being felt. Mines already in...

2005 Alaska mining directory.(2005 Mining Special Edition)(Directory)
November 1, 2005... AngloGold Ashanti North America Don Ewigleben, Pres. 7400 E. Orchard Rd., Suite 350 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone: 303-889-0700 Fax: 303-889-0707 Web Site: www.anglogold.com Year Estab.: 2000 Mining District: Regional exploration...

Depressed Kuskokwim region point of focus for mine and land development: region debates pros and cons of Port authority.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... The Kuskokwim tenon of Alaska is considered to be one of the most economically depressed areas in the state. Yet the concept of creating a Port Authority to promote economic development in the region, and in turn to help further the development...

Man Alaska project shows potential: an entire spectrum of minerals are being found, but production is still years away.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... When the Nevada Star Corp. first started staking what is now known as the MAN Alaska project in 1995, they were looking for sources of platinum, based on stories told by placer miners who had successfully worked in the area. Since then, the...

Red dog advances: metal prices have rebounded, as the global demand for such industrial minerals increases, meaning good news for Red Dog and its improvement and exploration projects.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... Alaska's largest metal mine completed several projects in 2005, keeping managers busy with planning and evaluating the extra work, while continuing to maintain production of Red Dog's zinc and lead concentrate. "Overall, it's been pretty...

Pogo poised to pour gold: the mine may be completed early next year and provide jobs to 2005 by December.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... Teck-Pogo Inc. is working hard to complete Pogo by March 2006 and begin delivering the first of an anticipated 400,000 ounces per year for the next 10 years. Alaska Interstate Construction completed all the heavy civil work at the mine site....

Fort Knox seeks mine life extenstion: originally due to close this, year Fort Knox still producing.(2005 Mining Special Section)(Fort Knox Gold Resources Inc)
November 1, 2005... Mine Superintendent Dan Snodgress, left, and Chief Mine Engineer Jarod Eastman stand in front of the largest haul truck recently put into use at the Fort Knox gold mine northeast of Fairbanks. The truck is rated with a 240-ton capacity,...

Alaska 2005: mining in review: frenetic, wild, intense, frantic, hectic, feverish and exhausting. These are but a few ok the legally printable words used to describe the activity ok Alaska's mining industry in 2005.(2005 Mining Special Section)
November 1, 2005... The mineral industry for the state of Alaska is coming off a record year in 2004, and 2005 is bucking hard to surpass the 2004 results. Preliminary state estimates pegged 2004 exploration spending at $63.7 million, its highest level since 1981....

Smithsonian highlights Alaska native art and film: Alaska native culture and traditions at Washington, D.C., museum.(Alaska This Month)
November 1, 2005... Alaska Native culture and traditions are focal points of a festival at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History this month in Washington, D.C., with art, performances, storytelling, crafts and film screenings by influential...

2005 November events Calendar.
November 1, 2005... Anchorage 10/31 to 11/5 Alaska Miners Convention Attend the convention and learn more about Alaska's growing mineral industry than ever before. Tradeshow and rock and mineral show opened to the public. Located at the Sheraton Anchorage...

Disaster recovery: Earthquake, floods, winter storms: is your business prepared for the unexpected?
November 1, 2005... Natural disasters or... "You're doing a great job Brownie. As we learned from Katrina that does not make for a good nor gracious recovery in a natural disaster. Natural disasters get all the attention. In the forefront, utilities, roads,...

Helmets to hardhats will help transportation people leaving active duty: veterans can obtain good skills, start a new career and help build Alaska.(BUILDING ALASKA)(Cover story)
November 1, 2005... Surveyor Ellery Gibbs searches for an exact location using a Trimble 5700 GPS real-time kinematic. Gibbs works for Bush Construction Surveys Inc. in Wasilla. He received his training and experience during eight years of service in the Navy...

Alaska construction industry still holds strong: about $6 billion was spent on construction in 2005, and that figure is expected to rise by 5 percent to 8 percent in 2006.(BUILDING ALASKA)
November 1, 2005... Alaska's construction industry is coming off a good year in 2005, and facing another--perhaps even better--in 2006. The University of Alaska Anchorage's Institute of Social and Economic Research, in a report created for the Associated General...

Fairbanks sees near record construction season: commercial and government work fuel economy.(BUILDING ALASKA)
November 1, 2005... Contractors and construction workers in the Fairbanks area hustled through the summer of 2005 on a myriad of new projects--so many that supplies and labor became tight in the Interior's booming building industry. Those impacts hit both...

Easy steps to energy-efficient buildings: savings on utility bills and mortgage rates are not the only reasons to take an interest in energy efficiency. Safety, health, durability and comfort issues are often more motivating than long-term financial savings.(BUILDING ALASKA)
November 1, 2005... Many Alaskans dread the approach of winter--for some the anxiety is as much about high utility bills as it is about the darkness. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 36 percent of total energy use and (iS percent...

Optimizing system performance: commissioning needs to occur as early as possible in a building'S lifecycle in order to achieve the best results.(BUILDING ALASKA: Building Commissioning:)
November 1, 2005... Entering into the total building operation equation is something known simply as commissioning. Described by the Building Commissioning Association (BCA): "The basic purpose of building commissioning is to provide documented confirmation that...

Repair or replace? How to know what to do when equipment is on the fritz.
November 1, 2005... Equipment failure will eventually put the brakes on your company's productivity and profit. The question isn't "Will it fail?" but "What will we do when equipment fails: repair or replace?" Asking yourself the following questions can help you...

Active Rotary rigs throughout the United States and Alaska.(Alaska Trends for November 2005)
November 1, 2005... The Baker Hughes North American Rotary Rig Count is a calculation of the drilling rigs that are actively searching for, or developing, oil and natural gas throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2005, the United States had 1,412...

Alaska trends for November 2005.(Statistical table)
November 1, 2005... Alaska Trends for November 2005 Latest Report Indicator Units Period Period ...